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. WHISK BOUND INTO THE SANDMAN’S BAG 


































































































































































































Three Little Kittens 

W ho Lost Tlieir Mittens 


By Laura Rountree Smith 

Pictures by F. R. Morgan 


0 0 
m & & 



> > > 
j > 
i > > 


^HITMAW' r PuBLISHING Co. 


RACINE. WISCONSIN 


Q 













COPYRIGHT 1919 BY 

ITM AIST Tu B LI S HING 

RACINE. WISCONSIN 



MAR - I 1920 


©C1A563895 


Table of Contents 


I 

Losing Their Mittens. 

. . .11 

II 

Old Mother Catastrophe. 

. . .25 

III 

The Three Little Foxes. 

. . . 37 

IV 

Grandpa" Growler and the 
Three Bears. 

. . .49 

V 

The Surprise Party. 

. . .63 


y« 








List of illustrations 


Whisk Bound, Into the Sandman’s Bag.Frontispiece 

She Sent Them, Without Supper, to Bed.15 

Three Little Foxes Wearing Three Pairs of 

Mittens . 19 

Old Mother Catastrophe Stuck Her Head out 

of the Window.23 

In Walked Grandpa Growler.43 

They Went on Until They Came to the House 

of the Three Bears.47 

They Began to Eat Porridge as Fast as They Could. . .51 

They Ran This Way and That Way Cooking and 

Making Cookies and Pies.55 

“Hurrah for Three Little Kittens”.59 


The Three Little Foxes Ran Away Again 


63 














©Three Little Fattens 












. 

























. 








































CHAPTER L 


LOSING THE MITTENS 


r\ NCE upon a time Three Little Kittens 
went out to slide upon the ice. 

Old Mother Kit-Cat called after them, 
“Dot, Tot, Trot, you have forgotten your 
mittens.” 

They came hack pitter, patter, pitter, 
patter, as fast as their furry little feet 
would carry them. 

Old Mother Kit-Cat said, 


“Oh Three Little Kittens, 

Come put on your mittens,” 

and she handed Dot a pair of red mittens, 


(ii) 


s^Three Little Kittens 




d: 


■D 


and Tot a pair of blue mittens, and Trot a 
pair of brown mittens, and the Three Lit¬ 
tle Kittens went merrily off to skate. 

“I don’t like to wear mittens,” said Dot. 

“I don’t like to either,” said Tot. 

Trot said, “Oh meow, they squeeze my 
paws.” 

« 

Now, what do you suppose those naughty 
little kittens did? 

They took off their mittens and left 
them on the bank by the ice pond. 

They put on their cunning little skates 
and began to skate to and fro, to and fro, 
and the wind whistled and called, 

“I may freeze your paws and toes, 
Nobody knows—nobody knows.” 


(12) 




oOTho LostTheir Mittens^ 

a . — . . — £ > 

“My long whiskers,” cried Dot, “How 
cold it is skating on the ice.” 

“By my long tail, “said Tot, “How cold 
my paws are.” 

Trot said, “We will go hack at once to 
the bank and get our mittens.” 

The Three Little Kittens did not know 
that Three Little Foxes had crept up on 
the bank. 

They did not know that the little Foxes 

said. 

✓ 

“See the nice little mittens, 

Left here by the kittens.” 

They did not know that the Three Lit¬ 
tle Foxes had put on their mittens and 
had run away, waving their beautiful tails 
behind them. 


(13) 




0 = 


iJTbree Little Kittens @ 


D 


When the Tliree Little Kittens got to 
the bank and saw that their mittens were 
gone. Dot and Tot cried together, 

“We are sad little Kittens, 

We have lost our new mittens.” 

Brave little Trot said, 

“We are smart little Kittens, 

We’ll go find our mittens.” 

Then Dot and Tot dried their eyes on 
their little wee pocket handkerchiefs and 
said, “You are so cheerful brother Trot we 
will follow where you lead.” 

The Three Little Kittens looked one 
hour and thirty-six minutes for their mit¬ 
tens, but they could not find them and so 
they went sadly homeward. 


(14) 




■Vt-rrr-t-r 



SHE SENT THEM, WITHOUT SUPPER, TO BED 




































































































Three Little Fattens 




Old Mother Kit-Cat stood in the door¬ 
way looking for them. 

She cried, 

“Go back, go hack you naughty 
Kittens, 

Go back and pick up your nice new 

The Three Little Kittens hung their 

heads and said, 

1 # / 

v 

“We put them on the hank to dry, 
We hope to find them by and by.” 

“You naughty Kittens” Old Kit-Cat said. 
She sent them, without supper, to bed. 
1 The Three Little Kittens cried, “Meow, 
meow, meow. Can’t we have a dish of 
milk? Can’t we have a chicken bone?” 


(16) 




Q^iVho LostTheir Mittens^* 


a. .. . -o 

Old Mother Kit-Cat shook her head, so 
the Three Little Kittens went pit-a-pat 
pit-a-pat, up stairs to hed. 

They were so hungry they kept talking 
about good things to eat and that made 
them want their supper more and more. 

“Fish and bones” said Dot, “Milk and 
cream,” said Tot, “Meat and gravy” said 
Trot. 

Old Mother Kit-Cat called, 

“Hush, be still, for over the hill, 

The Sandman comes his bag to fill.” 

At this, the Three Little Kittens pulled 
the covers high up over their heads, for 
they did not want the Sandman to tuck 
them in his bag. 


(17) 





^TTiree Little Kittens 




ALL THIS TIME THREE LITTLE 
FOXES WEARING THREE PAIRS OF 
MITTENS WERE DANCING MERRILY 
IN THE MOONLIGHT. 

The Sandman came up over the hill 
and peeped in at the window. 

He saw the beds where the Three Lit¬ 
tle Kittens lay with the covers pulled up 
over their heads. He sang softly, 

“Oh ho, Little Kittens, 

I saw your lost mittens.” 

“Where? Where? Where?” cried the 
Three Little Kittens in one breath uncov¬ 
ering their heads. 

The Sandman answered in a sing-song- 
lazy kind of way, 


( 18 ) 





THREE LITTLE FOXES WEARING THREE 
PAIRS OF MITTENS 















Three Little Fattens 




“Come jump in the sack, 

I have on my back.” 

The Three Little Kittens were thinking 
so hard about their mittens that they for¬ 
got to be afraid and they went whisk! 
bound! into the Sandman’s sack and rode 
merrily far away over hill and dale, away, 
away, away. 

Suddenly the Sandman’s sack broke and 
out fell the Three Little Kittens. 

The Sandman did not notice what had 
happened, and he ran on leaving the Three 
Little Kittens behind him. 

They saw a little wee house in the 
woods and ran and knocked on the door. 

Old Mother Catastrophe, the oldest Cat 


(20) 




oOTho Lost Their Mittens?? 


£> 


a 

in the world stuck her head out of the 
window and called, 

“Did you happen to have a mishap? 

You sadly disturbed me from my nap.” 

The Three Little Kittens answered, 

“Old Mother Catastrophe, kind and good. 

We are Three Little Kittens lost in 
the wood.” 

* 

Old Mother Catastrophe always knew 
what to do, she opened her door and 
hugged and kissed the Three Little Kittens 
and said to the delight of all, “NOW FOR 
THE COOKIE JAR.” 

She put a cookie jar on the floor and 
the Three Little Kittens put in their three 

( 21 ) 


9 





a 


D 


SThree Little Kittens 




little paws without saying “By your leave, 
or thank you, or if you please.” 

Then what do yon suppose happened? 

The cookie jar rose in the air and set¬ 
tled down out of reach, on the highest 
shelf in the pantry. 

The Three Little Kittens cried “Oh” 
and “All” and “What happened to the 
cookie jar?” 

Old Mother Catastrophe said, 

“I do not really mean to tease, 

But learn some little words like these, 
THANK YOU—say, and—IF YOU 
PLEASE.” 

The Three Little Kittens said, “Thank 
you, thank you, please give us a cookie, 
please do.” 


( 22 ) 





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t»iUv 


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OLD MOTHER CATASTROPHE STUCK HER HEAD OUT 

OF THE WINDOW 









































0 = 


;=D 



Three Little Fattens 



At that, the cookie-jar floated down 
again and they ate cookies to their hearts’ 
content. 

They told Old Mother Catastrophe about 
their lost mittens but she only shook her 
wise old head and said, 

“Enough said, enough said. 

Night time is the time for bed.” 

She tucked the Three Little Kittens up 
in her own bed. 

Dot and Tot and Trot fell asleep won¬ 
dering about their lost mittens. 

ALL THIS TIME THREE LITTLE 
EOXES WEARING THREE PAIRS OF 
MITTENS WERE DANCING MERRILY 
IN THE MOONLIGHT. 


( 24 ) 




CHAPTER II. 


OLD MOTHER CATASTROPHE 



They rail downstairs but Old Mother 
Catastrophe was nowhere to he seen. 

There was no fire in the kitchen stove. 

Dot and Tot began to cry but brave 
little Trot said, 

“I believe I’ll sing a little verse. 

It might be better, it might be worse.” 


Then, to the surprise of all a little 
silver hell rang and a voice called. 


( 25 ) 


a 


D 


ifThree Little Kittens 




“Old Mother Catastrophe’s old and gray. 
Who will bring in her wood to-day?” 

“I will, I will, I will,” cried the Three 
Little Kittens together. 

They saw that the wood-box was empty. 

The Three Little Kittens went out and 
got wood and filled the box. 

They thought they had brought in 
enough hut a voice called, 

“Day and night, hours four and twenty, 
Get a plenty, get a plenty.” 

The Little Kittens were so amused they 
tumbled over each other and hurried out 
to get more wood. 

They next heard the tinkle, tinkle, 
tinkle, of a silver hell and the voice said, 


( 26 ) 





a 


®Who LostTheir Mritenst? 


£> 


“So far, so good, so far, so good, 

For now we fin d enough of wood.’ 

The Three Little Kittens were happy 
now. 

“Oh, I wonder what else we can do,” 
asked Dot 

“Perhaps, there isn’t anything else we 
can do,” said Tot 

“Well, we soon will know,” added 
T rot. 

As the Three Kittens stood there look¬ 
ing at each other, the same tinkle tinkle 
of the same silver hell was heard by them. 

“1 wonder what that means,” cried Dot 
and Tot. 

This is what the little silver voice now 
said. 





^TTiree Little Fattens 





“Who can get breakfast, may I inquire, 
Until they have made a good kitchen 
fire?” 

Then the Three Little Kittens made a 
fire and soon it was roaring merrily. 

Then the little hell tinkled again and 
a voice said, 

“Old Mother Catastrophe’s old and gray. 
Who will bring in her water to-day?” 

“I will, I will, I will,” cried the Three 
Little Kittens, and they went out for a pail 
of water and filled up the tea-kettle. And 
to the surprise of all, there stood Old 
Mother Catastrophe in the door way wear¬ 
ing a cap with silver hells upon it. 

She said. 


( 28 ) 




«o Lost Their Mittens?? 




“Tis well to work as well as play, 
And learn some lessons every day.” 

Dot thought of the empty wood box at 
home and Tot remembered that the tea¬ 
kettle was empty. 

Trot thought they could help mother 
when they got home. 

Old Mother Catastrophe hugged and 
kissed each Little Kitten in turn and in 
less time than it takes to tell it, they sat 
down to eat breakfast together. 

Old Mother Catastrophe said, “I am 
going to see Old Mother Kit-Cat to-day, 
and you may keep house while I am gone.” 

Then she cried, “Where are my rubbers? 
Where is my great-coat? Where is my 
market basket? Where is my walking stick?” 


( 29 ) 




a 


D 



Three Little Kittens 



The Three Little Kittens ran this way 
and that way waiting upon her. 

She said in parting, 

“Laugh and play with merry din, 

But do not let the Foxes in.” 

“The FOXES,” said Dot and Tot, “Oh 
dear, oh dear we are afraid of the FOXES.” 

Trot said, “I am not afraid of the 
FOXES, we will not let them in.” 

The Three Little Kittens stood at the 
window waving their pocket handkerchiefs 
as Mother Catastrophe went down the walk. 

“I think you can have a better play, 
If the dishes are washed and put 
away,” 

sang the Little Old Man of the Fire, so 





^Vho LostTheir Mittens^ 


g. —.-. ~q 

the Three Little Kittens found three little 
aprons hanging on a nail and they put 
them on and washed and dried the dishes 
and put them away. 

All day long they danced about merrily 
doing nice things for Mother Catastrophe 
and the Little Old Man of the Fire shout¬ 
ed merrily all the time. 

Once he shouted, 

“Oh Three Little Kittens, 

Tell, where are your mittens?” 

“Our mittens, ” cried Dot and Tot, “Oh 
dear, oh dear, we had forgotten all about 
our mittens.” 

At this very minute a very exciting 
thing happened. 


( 31 ) 




D 




Three Little Fattens 



Three Little Foxes wearing three pairs 
of mittens came dancing down the road¬ 
way. 

THEY CAME NEARER AND NEARER 
EVERY MINUTE. 

They ran up to the house and showed 
the mittens they were wearing, and they 
flattened their noses against the window 
pane. 

They cried, “Let us in, pray let us in, 
we are so cold we are freezing our noses 

o 

and toeses.” 

I don’t know what in the world would 
have happened but the Little Old Man of 
the Fire leaped out in his jacket of red 
and yellow, crying, 


( 32 ) 




®Who LostTheir Mittens^? 


D 


a 


“I will burn your nose, I will burn 
your toes, 

So away and away the wise fox goes.” 

The Three Little Foxes were so afraid 
at that they ran off as fast as their legs 
could carry them. 

They wore the mittens of course that 
belonged to the Kittens. 

Dot and Tot began to weep and wail, 

“Oh dear, oh dear, we have lost our 
mittens, 

Oh dear, oil dear, we are sad little 
kittens.” 

If you guessed one hundred years you 
could never guess what brave little Trot 

did. 


( 33 ) 




iThree Little Kittens 




a 


D 


He ran and got the old gold-fish howl 
that stood empty on the table and said, 
"'Will you cry a bowl full? Will you cry 
a pitcher full? Will you cry a tea-kettle 
full;—keep it up, keep it up.” 

Dot and Tot did not shed another tear 
and the Little Old Man of the Fire said, 

“If you can count your eyes and nose, 
Tis supper time as I suppose.” 

Such a hurrying and scurrying you 
never saw as the hands of the kitchen 
clock pointed to six. 

The Three Little Kittens had supper on 
the table and smoking hot, when Old 
Mother Catastrophe came thump, bump, 
thump, hump, with her cane, rapping and 
tapping, with her cane, all the way. 


( 34 ) 




CL 


qOTio LostTheir Mittens^? 


D 


When they told their adventure at sup¬ 
per time Old Mother Catastrophe said, 

“First class in Foxes come this way, 

And hear what Catastrophe has to 
*)•) 

say. 

Then she said they would have to learn 
all about Foxes and go to-morrow to the 
foxes’ den and get their lost mittens. 

Dot and Tot were so scared at the men¬ 
tion of Foxes that they crept under the 
table but brave little Trot said, 

“Dear Mother Catastrophe, old and 
gray, 

We are not afraid if you’ll lead the 
way. 

Old Mother Catastrophe rolled her great 
green eyes and said, 


( 35 ) 






Three Little Kittens 



o= 


,D 


“What about my lame leg and crook¬ 
ed back? 

’Tis a mile away, alas! alack!” 

Brave little Trot said, “We will take 
you in the wheel-barrow and wheel you 
right up to the Foxes den if you will only 
go with us.” 

Mother Catastrophe agreed to this, and 
they all sat round in a circle while she 
told them about Foxes. 

She began by saying, 

“Alas! Little Kittens! alas! Little Kit¬ 
tens, 

Three Little Foxes have stolen your 
mittens.” 


( 36 ) 




CHAPTER III. 


THE THREE LITTLE FOXES 

LD Mother Catastrophe said, 

“I will tell you once again, 

• How to arrive at the Foxes’ den.” 

Dot and Tot said, “Oh Mother Catas¬ 
trophe, we would rather never find our 
mittens than to have to go to the Foxes’ 
den.” 

Trot said, “Please tell us how to find 
our lost mittens.” 

Mother Catastrophe said, “You go through 
the woods by the most crooked path you 
can find, and turn to the right, and turn 
to the left, to see if the Foxes are behind 


a 


d 



Three Little Kittens 



you, if all is still you go ou until you come 
to tlieir den, 

“When Madam Red Fox comes out you 
bow politely and say, 

“Good evening, good morning and 
how do you do?” 

We have come to pay a visit to you.” 

At that very minute Dot and Tot began 
to weep and wail. They cried until little 
streams of tears showed on the carpet. 

Mother Catastrophe said, “Will they cry 

cry a tub full?” 

Still Dot and Tot cried, “Boo-hoo, we 
do not want to go to the Foxes’ den.” 

Trot went out and got the washhoiler 
and said, “Cry it full so Mother Catastro phe 


a bucket full? Will they 


( 38 ) 




Q: 


Lostlheir Mittens?? 


D 


can perhaps make use of it. 

But still they cried. While Tot cried 
loudly, Dot moved the washboiler so that 
none of their tears would fall inside. 

“We are afraid of the Foxeg, we do not 
want to go to their den.” 

Old Mother Catastrophe waited for them 
to stop crying but they would not stop. 

“It’s silly quite for you to cry, 

You’ll lose all fear by and by.” 

“Must we go to the Foxes’ den?” asked 
both Dot and Tot. 

“We’ll do whatever Mother Catastrophe 
says,” replied Trot. 

Then they started to cry again. 

Trot brought the washboiler again. “If 
you cry hard into this, Mother Catastrophe 


( 39 ) 




a 


D 



Three Little Kittens 



will have soft water to wash her clothes 
. ^ 

111 . 

Then Dot and Tot began to laugh in¬ 
stead of cry and Mother Catastrophe said, 

“If manners you really want to know. 
Bow politely, and stand in a row.” 

The Three Little Kittens stood up in 
a row and bowed politely. 

Old Mother Catastrophe said, 

“Dot will make a bow next, and say to 
Madam Red Fox, How is your cousin the 
Kit-Fox? Has he changed his coat this 
season?” 

Dot said, “Do Foxes change their coats? 
Do tell us about it.” 

“Of course they change their coats,” 


( 40 ) 




CL 


Q>OTho LostTheir Mittens?? 


D 

said Mother Catastrophe “'The Kit-Fox wears 
a coat of one color in the summer, and 
another color in the winter. 

‘"Tot may next make a bow and say. 
How is your cousin the Cross-Fox? He 
is not really a very cross Fox but he is 
named from his markings.” 

“At this very minute little Trot may 
shout at the top of his lungs, 

“We are the kittens who lost our 
mittens, 

Oh, Red Fox, give them to us to-day, 

Oh, we are the Kittens who lost our 
mittens. 

But truly Red Fox we’ve not come 
to stay.” 


( 41 ) 





D 


i'TTiree Little Battens 




0 = 


“You must thank Madam Red Fox when 
she hands you the mittens.” 

Trot went out to get the wheel-barrow 
for they were going to wheel Mother 
Catastrophe to the Foxes’ den. 

They helped her into the wheel-harrow 
and went through the woods by the most 
crooked paths they could find. 

Suddenly they all stopped still and Trot 
said, “What if Madam Red Fox should not 
he at home?” 

“Old Mother Catastrophe answered, 

“I’m Mother Catastrophe, old and gray, 

I don’t cross a bridge while on the. 
way.” 

Dot and Tot said, “Where is the bridge? 

7 o 

We don’t see any bridge at all.” 





THE DOOR OPENED AND IN WALKED GRANDPA GROWLER, 
THE FUNNIEST LEAR IN THE WORLD 


























































CL 



Three Little Kittens 




Old Mother Catastrophe said, 

“You can have good manners, if you 
choose, 

You had better mind your “P’s” and 
“Q’s” 

“Our “P’s” and “Q’s” repeated the 
Three Little Kittens. 

At that very minute they heard the 
“patter, patter, patter” of feet behind them. 

“The Foxes, the Foxes,” cried the Three 
Little Kittens, “Oh where shall we hide?” 

They turned over the wheel-harrow and 
crept under it, and to the surprise of all. 
Old Mother Kit-Cat came down the path 
singing, 

“Where are the three Kittens, 

Who once lost their mittens?” 

( 44 ) 




a 


4Who LostTheir Miitenst? 


£> 

“Here we are, here we are,” they all 
shouted rumbling and tumbling out from 
under the wheelbarrow. 

They hugged and kissed all around and 
Mother Kit-Cat said, 

“Come let us journey on again, 

Until we come to the Foxes’ den.” 

So, on and on, they went, Old Mother 
Catastrophe riding in the wlieel-harrow all 
the way, and the wind whistled a merry 
tune, 

“You’ll not find your mittens, 

You Three Little Kittens, 

They were stolen away, 

For a year and a day.” 

“Hark! What does the Wind say about 


( 45 ) 




a 


D 



Three Little Fattens 



our mittens?” asked the Three Little Kit¬ 
tens. They shouted at the top of their 
lungs, “We cannot spare our mittens for 
a year and a day, perhaps the wind is only 
teasing.” 

“The Wind may he false, the Wind 
may he true 

We’ll accomplish what we set out to 
do,” 

said Mother Catastrophe, and they drew 
nearer and nearer the Foxes’ den every 
step they took. 

Dot and Tot said, “By our long 
whiskers, we wish we were home.” 

Trot said, 


“We are on an adventure hound, 

( 46 ) 





THEY WENT ON UNTIL THEY CAME TO THE HOUSE 

OF THE THREE BEARS 






















































Three Little Fattens 




Perhaps the mittens will soon be 
found.” 

At that very minute they came upon 
the Foxes’ Den and they were all surprised 
to read a sign in big letters, 

“OH, THREE LITTLE KITTENS, WE 
DID TAKE YOUR MITTENS, 

WE WORE THEM AS LONG AS WE 
COULD, 

OH, THREE LITTLE KITTENS, WE 
GAVE UP THE MITTENS 
TO THREE LITTLE BEARS WHO 
LIVE IN THE WOODS.” 

“Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah,” cried the 
Three Little Kittens, “We will go to the 
home of Three Little Bears who live in 


( 48 ) 





^Vho Lost Their Miitenst? 


n sj 

the woods. Hurrah for the three little 
friendly Bears.” 

Old Mother Kit-Cat said, “Indeed, I 
think you will come home with me.” 

Old Mother Catastrophe said, 

“I do not like in the woods to roam. 
Come, Three Little Kittens, and wheel 
me home.” 

They all took turns in wheeling Mother 
Catastrophe home, and then they ran be¬ 
side Mother Kit-Cat until they came to 
their neat little house at the edge of the 
woods. 

They said, 

“Tis dark within the Foxes’ den, 

We hope we’ll not go there again.” 


( 49 ) 






Three Little Fattens @ 



The Wind whistled merrily, 

“Oh Three Little Kittens, oh Three 
Little Kittens, 

Three Little Bears are wearing your 
mittens.” 

The Three Little Kittens said, “Oh Ma, 
may we go to the house of The Three 
Bears to-morrow?” 

Old Mother Kit-Cat washed their faces 
and said, “When to-morrow comes we shall 





mM 



THEY BEGAN TO EAT PORRIDGE AS FAST 
AS THEY COULD 


























































































































































CHAPTER IV. 


GRANDPA GROWLER AND THE THREE BEARS 



EXT morning early, Dot and Tot 
and Trot woke up crying, 


“We’re good Little Kittens, 

May we find out mittens? 

Old Mother Kit-Cat, we’re coming 
down stairs, 

We’re good Little Kittens, 

We’ll go find our mittens, 

If we may repair to the home of 
Three Bears.” 


Old Mother Kit-Cat answered, “What 
do you know about Bears? You cannot 
understand Bear Language. 


( 52 ) 


^Vho LostTheir Mittens?? 


g , . -. o 

“Boo hoo, boo boo,” cried the Three 
Little Kittens 

Old Mother Kit-Cat we must find our 
mittens.” 

Mother Kit-Cat looked at the Three 

Little Kittens over her spectacles and The 
Little Old Man of the Fire said, 

“To interrupt is quite absurd, 

In Politeness Land, I’ve heard.” 

The Three Little Kittens hung their 

heads and sat very still in their three little 
rocking chairs by the fire. 

At this very minute, “Rap-a-tap” was 
beard at the door. The door opened, and 
in walked Grandpa Growler, the friendliest 
Bear in the world. 


( 53 ) 






BThree Little Kittens 





The Three Little Kittens cried, “Oh 
Grandpa Growler have you some candy for 
us? Oh Grandpa Growler have you come 
to tell us a story?” 

He answered, 


“Three Little Kittens all like to tease, 
Come, let me get my breath, if you 
please.” 


He sat down by the fire and growled 
and growled. He was a peculiar Bear and 
always growled the loudest when he was 
happy. He was very happy now warming 
his paws by the cheerful fire. 

He was a sure enough Story Teller and 
he began in a sing-song kind of way, 
“Once upon a time Three Little Kittens 
lost their mittens.” 


( 54 ) 






THEY RAN THIS WAY AND THAT WAY, COOKING AND 
MAKING COOKIES AND PIES 

































































































SThree Little Kittens § 




a 


“How did you know?” asked Dot. 

“How did you know?” asked Tot. 

Trot said, “Oh Grandpa, please go on 
with your story.” 

Grandpa Growler growled again pleas¬ 
antly and said, 

“Three little Foxes are trying to fit on 

Three little mittens from Three Little 
Kittens.” 

“Didn’t they really , truly fit?” asked 
Dot and Tot. 

Trot said as before, “Oil Grandpa, go 
on with your story, please.” 

At this Grandpa Growler removed his 
spectacles and said, 

“Three little Foxes 1 do declare, 


( 56 ) 





$Mio LostTheir Mittens ^ 3 


g . — g 

Are just as shy as Three Little Bears, 

The thing to you may seem quite 

They traded the mittens for milk and 

99 

The Three Little Kittens joined paws 
and whirled round singing, 

“The Three Little Bears have our mit¬ 
tens ho, ho, 

To their little wee house in the woods 
we must go.” 

Grandpa Growler was always in a hurry 
to do things so he growled again pleasant¬ 
ly saying, 

“I will not wait a year and a day, 

We’ll start away, and make no delay.” 




( 57 ) 




D 




Three Little Kittens 



Before the Three Little Kittens could 
say a word he had tucked Dot and Tot in 
his overcoat pockets, and he tucked Trot 
in his market basket and walked off in 
his funny flat-footed manner. 

The Little Kittens felt safe but Dot and 
Tot whispered to each other, “What if we 
should fall? What if we should meet the 
Bears in the woods?” 

They went on and on until they came 
to the House of the Three Bears. 

They could hear the Bears scolding 
about somebody eating their porridge and 
sitting in their chairs. 

Grandpa Growler walked right in and 
said, 


m 





“HURRAH, HURRAH FOR THREE LITTLE KITTENS” 















































































SThree Little Kittens 





“Such a grumbling I never heard, 
Three Little Bears, it’s quite absurd.” 

e- ir t 

Then he growled as loud as he could, 
and the Three Bears stopped their noise. 

All would have gone well I am sure, if 
the porridge had not smelled so good. 

All of a sudden the Three Little Kittens 
jumped on the table and began to eat por¬ 
ridge as fast as they could. 

“Ho, ho,” cried the Three Bears, so we 
have more visitors.” They thought the 
Three Little Kittens so cute they hugged 

them most too hard but Grandpa Growler 
said, 

“Make your best bow, you Three Lit¬ 
tle Kittens, 


( 60 ) 




$^Who Lost Iheir Mittens?? 

a . . . ■ . r> 

And ask, politely, for news of the 
mittens.” 

“THE MITTENS!” shouted the Three 

Bears in one breath. They they cried, 

“The Three Little Foxes are very sly 

They brought us the mittens only to 
try.” 

“Didn’t they fit you?” asked Dot. 

“Didn’t they fit yon?” asked Tot. 

“Where can they be now?” asked Trot. 

The Three Bears said, 

“Yon dear little Kittens, we gave up 
the mittens, 

To three little Squirrels who live in 
the woods.” 

1 • 

“Squirrels,” said Dot and Tot. 

( 61 ) 




a 


D 



Three Little Kittens 



“Curly-Tails,” said Trot. 

They had a fine visit with the Three 
Bears and by and 
ward in the moonlight. 

Grandpa Growler swung a lighted lan¬ 
tern before them growling softly all the 
time. 

He was very fond of fish and kept say¬ 
ing under his breath, “I wish I had some 
trout, I wish I had some salmon. I am 
so hungry I could eat Three Little Kittens.” 

The Three Little Kittens were not at 
all afraid for this was one of Grandpa 
Growler’s jokes. 

When they got home Old Mother Kit- 
Cat said, 

“If T were a fairy to grant you a wish, 


by went merrily home- 


( 62 ) 





THE THREE LITTLE FOXES RAN AWAY AGAIN 



























































































































































































































































































SThree Little Kittens @ 

a - d 

What would you like to eat better 
than fish?” 

“FISH” roared Grandpa Growler so 
loudly that the roof nearly came off. 

Old Mother Kit-Cat brought in a dish 
of fish for all and Grandpa Growler said, 

“If you’ll invite me I’d like to stay, 

While the Three Little Kittens jour¬ 
ney away, 

For Three Little Squirrels are wearing 
the mittens, 

That really belong to Three Little 
Kittens.” 

*- !l . 

“Squirrels,” said Dot and vTot. 

“Curly-Tails,” said Trot. 

* 

They soon went merrily to bed. 


( 64 ) 




®Who LostTheir Mittens^? 


a — —. - . —o 

All this time Three Little Foxes wear¬ 
ing three pairs of mittens were dancing 
merrily in the moonlight. 

The Little Old Man of the Fire sang, 

“Oh Three Little Kittens, oh Three 
Little Kittens, 

I fear me, the Foxes are wearing your 
mittens.” 

“You mean squirrels,” said Dot and Tot 
sleepily. 

“You mean Curly-Tails,” said Trot. 

The Little Old Man of the Fire sang 
his song, but I don’t know what he knew 
about the matter. 


( 65 ) 




CHAPTER V. 

THE SURPRISE PARTY 

LD Mother Kit-Cat sat knitting as 



usual one evening and her needles 
went “click, click, click,” when “a rap-a- 
tap” was heard at the door and in walked 
Grandpa Growler saying, 

“A surprise party, a surprise party, 
Here I am alive and hearty.” 

Old Mother Kit-Cat’s eyes got as big as 
saucers and she said, “I am afraid vou let 
the Cat out of the Bag that time Grandpa. 
Who told you about a surprise party?” 

Grandpa Growler replied, 


( 66 ) 


LostTheir Mittens^? 


D 


a 


“I say such funny things most of the 
time, 

Whether I’m talking in prose or in 
rhyme.” 

He growled so pleasantly at that, that 
the Three Little Kittens got the very best 
rocking chair for him and the hair-cloth 
footstool, and said, “Sit here, grandpa, in 
the rocking chair by the fire.” 

Old Mother Kit-Cat was wondering if 
he was really only joking about a surprise 
party when “rap-a-tap” was heard on the 
door and the Three Little Bears came in. 

They cried out, 

“A surprise party we think very good. 

We are the Three Bears that live in 
the woods.” 


( 67 ) 




a 



Three Little Kittens 




They had no sooner seated themselves 
on three little stools by the fire when 
“rap-a-tap,” sounded on the door again. 

Old Mother Kit-Cat straightened her 
cap and called. 

“Come in, come in, the hearth is wide, 
There’s room for one and all inside.” 

They all held their breath for no one 
came in this time. 

The Three Little Kittens whispered to 
each other “What if it should he the Three 
Little Foxes coming in next? What if it 
should he the Three Little Foxes who stole 
our mittens?” 

The Three Little Curly-Tails came in 
next, with a hop and a skip and a hound. 


( 68 ) 





LostTheir Mittens^ 


D 


<Z 

The next minute there was heard a 
great rumbling and tumbling and Grandpa 
Growler, who stood with his eyes to the 
key-liole said, “Some one is coming in a 
wheel-barrow.” 

Then the whole company shouted, 

“Oh Grandpa Growler, the secret is 
out, 

’Tis Mother Catastrophe, without a 
doubt.” 

Sure enough, Old Uncle Mouser was 
wheeling Old Mother Catastrophe nearer 
and nearer every minute. 

He kept saying over and over, “I hope 
no one has taken my red plusli-lined 
basket, I hope no one has taken my red 
plush-lined basket.” 


( 69 ) 




a 


D 


i Three Little Kittens % 




They came in, and Old Mother Catas¬ 
trophe shook the dust off her fur and 
whiskers and she said every one looked to 
her as big as life and twice as natural. 

Then the Ground-Hog came in mutter¬ 
ing about his shadow, hut the Beaver sent 
a note of regret for he was too shy for 
company. 

I do not suppose they would have had 
a bit to eat for refreshment if The Little 
Old Man of the Fire had not been there. 

He sang to the Three Little Kittens so 
softly that no one else heard, 

“Coffee, some sugar, and tea will do, 
Make up some cookies and rich pies 
too.” 


( 70 ) 




LostTheir Mittens?? 


a - .—. .. jp 

The Three Little Kittens went hurry¬ 
ing and scurrying into the kitchen. 

They ran this way, and that way, cook¬ 
ing tea and coffee and mixing up cookies 
and pies. 

The Three Little Foxes wearing three 
pairs of mittens danced up to the window 
and said, 

“You cannot cook, for so we’ve heard. 

Three Little Kittens, tis quite absurd.” 

The Three Little Kittens were so sur¬ 
prised that they dropped their three little 
spoons into their three little bowls, but 
the Little Old Man of the Fire said, quite 
as though nothing had happened. 

“MOST ANYTHING YOU’LL LEARN 
TO DO, 




Q 


SThree Little Kittens 




=D 


IF YOU WORK TO MAKE THE 
WISH COME TRUE.” 

Now the Three Little Foxes danced this 
way, and that way, and came up again to 
the kitchen window. 

The Three Little Foxes shouted, 

“More sugar, more spice, 

Make everything nice.” 

They troubled the Three Little Kittens 
so they could not think straight to save 
their lives. 

The Little Old Man of the Fire sud¬ 
denly darted through the open door shout¬ 
ing* 

“Til burn your busliy-tails ’tis true, 
Come on, I’ll run a race with you.” 




a 


Lostlheir Mittens^ 


D 


The Three Little Foxes could feel the 
Old Man’s hot breath and they scampered 
off as swiftly as the wind. 

The Little Old Man of the Fire shouted, 

“I can travel even faster, 

And I’ll bring you a disaster, 

Take off the mittens, take off the 
mittens, 

For they belong to Three Little 
Kittens.” 

At this, the Three Little Foxes lost no 
time you may guess. 

They threw the mittens down by the 
hank of a river near by. 

The Little Old Man of the Fire shout¬ 
ed, “Sink or swim, sink or swim,” and he 


( 73 ) 






Three Little Kittens 




pushed the Three Little Foxes into the 
river and they had to swim all the way 
home.” 

The Little Old Man of the Fire picked 
lip the mittens and washed them nicely, 
then he took them back home and hung 
them on the line to dry. 

All this time the Three Little Kittens 
were baking and stewing, and by and by 
they had a regular Surprise Party meal 
ready, and all the animals cried, “Hurrah, 
hurrah, for the Three Little Kittens.” 

After they had eaten everything they 
could lay their paws on, Old Uncle Mouser 
told stories, and Old Mother Catastrophe 
said, as the clock struck ten, 


“Mother Catastrophe, old and gray, 




Q 


<€Who LostTheir Mittens^* 


D 


Should start out now on the home¬ 
ward way.” 

This ended the party, and Old Uncle 
Mouser got the wheelbarrow, though he 
looked longingly, at the red plush-lined 
basket that waited him by the fire. 

There was the greatest shaking of paws 
you ever saw and Grandpa Growler said, 

“I’m old and stiff, you may believe, 
I ll stay all night now, by your leave.” 

As the guests went home Old Mother 
Kit-Cat said, 

“I really believe my dear little kittens, 
On the clothes line I see three pairs 
of mittens.” 


The Three Little Kittens went with a 





iThree Little Kittens 




jn 


hop and a skip and a bound to get 
their mittens and Three Little Foxes came 
tagging them, as if they were playing hide- 
and-seek. 

The Three Little Kittens cried, 

“We are Three Little Kittens who lost 
our mittens, 

And here they are on a line so dry, 
We are Three Little Kittens who lost 
our mittens 

And now we will call, “Good bye, 
good bye.” 

“JNot so fast,” said Grandpa Growler, 
“What will Kit-Cat do with the new mit¬ 
tens she has knit for you?” 

Old Mother Kit-Cat said, 


( 76 ) 




Q 


&Who LostTheirMrttens ^ 3 


D 


“They were made for Kittens, one, 
two, three 

I will pot them up on the Christmas 
tree.” 

The Three Little Foxes ran away again 
for they saw the Little Old Man of the 
Fire, coming after them, and the Three 
Little Kittens joined paws and danced 
round and round in a ring, while The 
Little Old Man of the Fire said, 

“Good bye, good bye,” we say and 
then, 

Just open the book and read again.” 

The Three Little Kittens cried, 


WE’RE THREE LITTLE KITTENS 
WHO FOUND OUR MITTENS, 




a 


D 



Three Little Kittens 



TO READ THIS BOOK I’M SURE 
YOU’LL TRY. 

WE’RE THREE LITTLE KITTENS 
WHO FOUND OUR MITTENS, 
AND NOW WE CALL ‘GOOD BYE, 
GOOD BYE’.” 

The Three Little Kittens ran merrily 
home in the moonlight, wearing their mit¬ 
tens. 




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